Adjustable seat back assembly for a wheelchair

Abstract

An adjustable seat back assembly for a wheelchair of the type having a frame with an upwardly extending rear frame portion and an adjustable angle seat support which includes a pivotable front end and a rear end which is secured to said rear frame portion at any of a plurality of different positions. A seat back support is mounted to pivot on the seat support from adjacent its rear end. A link connects the seat support to a slider on the rear frame portion to maintain the position of the slider relative to the seat back support pivot as the seat angle is adjusted. A releasable seat back angle adjuster secures the seat back support to the slider at any of a plurality of positions. When the seat back angle adjuster is released, the seat back support may be folded down towards said seat support.

We claim: 
     
       1. In combination with a wheelchair having a frame with an upwardly extending rear frame portion and an adjustable angle seat support which includes a pivotable front end and a rear end which is secured to said rear frame portion at any of a plurality of different positions, an adjustable seat back assembly comprising a seat back support having a lower end pivotally connected to said seat support adjacent said rear end, a slider positioned to slide on said frame rear end, a link connected between said slider and said seat support to maintain a predetermined spacing between said slider and said seat support when the angle of said seat support is adjusted, and a seat back angle adjuster releasably connecting said seat back support to said slider in a plurality of different angular positions relative to said seat support. 
     
     
       2. An assembly, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said seat back angle adjuster includes a bracket secured to said seat back support, said bracket having a projecting arm, and means for releasably securing said projecting arm to said slider in said plurality of different angular positions. 
     
     
       3. An assembly, as set forth in claim 2, and wherein said slider includes a separate hole for each of said positions, said holes being spaced about a circle having a center at said pivotal connection on the lower end of said seat back support, and wherein said means for releasably securing said projecting arm to said slider includes a release pin located to selectively engage said holes. 
     
     
       4. An assembly, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said link is connected between said slider and the pivotal connection between said lower end of said seat back support and said seat support.